Artwork
The Tithe Barn, Great Coxwell
The Tithe Barn, Great Coxwell is a watercolor work on paper by Piper. It dates from 1940 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
The Tithe Barn, Great Coxwell is a watercolour painting depicting a 14th-century tithe barn in a rural setting.
Subject & Meaning
The painting shows the barn's monumental scale using a low viewpoint and chiaroscuro, set against a dark background. The structure's simple arches and steep roof are emphasized, conveying a sense of solidity and history.
Technique & Style
The artist employed loose, quick brushstrokes to capture light and shadow, creating a soft, dreamy effect. Earthy tones dominate the palette, with beiges, grays, and browns used to convey a sense of age and weathering.
History & Provenance
Executed in 1940 as part of the Recording Britain project, the painting was commissioned to document places of national significance during the Second World War. The project, directed by Sir Kenneth Clark, aimed to preserve a visual record of the British landscape.
Artist & collection
Artist
A 1940s British artist known for delicate watercolours of country houses, churches, and riverside views, Piper captured quiet corners of England in soft washes and fine lines.
A House, Maidenhead
The river approach, Fawley Court
Interior of St. Peter's Church, Gayhurst
The Ruined Temple of Friendship in the Grounds at Stowe
Congreve Monument (designed by Wm. Kent) and Shell Grotto, Stowe
The Duck House in the Park of Buckland House near Faringdon
The Tunnel in the grounds of Buckland House, near Faringdon
Dashwood Mausoleum, West Wycombe
